Punctuation



Punctuation Universe

Question Mark 1, 2

Exclamation Mark 2

Interjection (Wow!) 3

Period

♦ end of sentence K

♦ abbreviation

1. Dr., Gen., Col, Prof., Lt., Capt., Sgt., Mr., Mrs., St., Mt., Ft. 2, 4, 5

2. months, days 2

3. where to place period when using parentheses [The race was 10 Kilometers (6.2 miles)]

4. If copy reads 3 1/2 million dollars, change to read $3.5 million. (To be used only in amounts

of a million or more.) 5

5. where to place a period in quotation marks 5

Commas

♦ items in a series 2, 3, 4

♦ day and year 1(and between year and rest of sentence) 5

♦ city and state 2, 4

♦ a quotation simple 4, 5

♦ split quotations 5

♦ a letter (greeting and closing) 2

♦ nominative address/direct address (command) 5

♦ compound sentence 3 (and only) 4, 6

♦ complex sentence 7

♦ compound/complex sentence 7, 8

♦ John Doe, Sr., Jane Doe III 7

♦ separate 2 adjectives that modify the same noun 5

♦ when to use a comma between two adjectives and when not to do so (This is the shortened,

simplified form. We will pay any additional reasonable costs.) 8

♦ setting off appositives 7

♦ too, also 4

♦ set off the words yes, no, why, well when used at the beginning of a sentence 4

♦ phrases in a series 4, 5

♦ set off inverted names in lists 9

♦ separate name from title or degree (Jane Doe, M.D.) 7

♦ set off contrasted word, phrase or clause (Saving, not spending, is the way of security.) 9

♦ set off transitional word or expression (nevertheless, moreover, however ...) when a pause is

needed for clarity or emphasis 7, 11

♦ when to use comma after introductory prepositional phrase (In regard to your request for an

extension, it is likely that it will be granted. During the last twenty years, the company's profits

have tripled.) 5, 7, 10, 11

♦ after introductory participial and absolute phrases (The matter being decided, the director

continued his report. Generally speaking, his successes go unnoticed.) 9

♦ when to use a comma with participial phrases - restrictive and nonrestrictive (The letter from

the Brooks Company, just received by Mark, clarifies the problem. All persons known to have

seen the accident will be questioned.) 9

♦ when to use a comma with a dependent adverbial clause (Before the sale is advertised, the

store will open for the regular customers. The Store will open for the regular customers before

the sale is advertised. Before I began to teach school, I spent many years in school.) 7, 8, 9

♦ when to use a comma in a short compound sentence (Fill in the enclosed blank and mail it

today.) 7

♦ when to use a comma with an adjective clause -restrictive and nonrestrictive- (Engraved

stationery, which conveys the impression of dignity and reliability, adds to the attractiveness of

correspondence. Anyone who as not learned to appreciate classical music is unfortunate.) 7, 9, 12

♦ use commas to set off words, phrases, and clauses that would otherwise be unclear (This ticket

is good for dinner or bed and breakfast. This ticket is good for dinner, or bed and breakfast.) 9

Semicolon

♦ items in a series 9

♦ compound sentence without coordinating conjunctions 7, 10

♦ compound/complex sentences 7, 11

♦ to separate groups of words, whether phrases or clauses, dependent on a general term or

statement ("We hold these truths to be self-evident - that all men created equal; that they are

endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and

the pursuit of happiness." - Thomas Jefferson) 11

♦ to precede for example, namely, for instance, viz., to wit, as, i.e. when they introduce an

enumeration of examples (Before choosing a university, a student should consider a number of

things; namely, academics, student life, and cost.) 11

♦ to separate clauses joined by such transitional words as hence, moreover, however, also,

therefore, consequently (Susan saw no objection to the suggestion; therefore, she accepted it.)

7, 10

♦ to separate lengthy statements following a colon 11

♦ place a semicolon outside of parentheses and quotation marks ("Infer" means "conclude";

"imply" means "suggest." 9

Colon

♦ time 1

♦ business letter 8

♦ introduce items in a series 6

♦ introduce formal or long quotation 9

Apostrophe

♦ possessive

1. singular 2, 3, 4

2. plural 3, 4, 5, 6

3. possessive of compound nouns (daughter-in-law's) 8

4. a noun modifying a gerund (I had not heard of John's leaving.) 7

5. contraction including: can't, I'm, don't, isn't, I'll, didn't. couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't won't,

there's, it's 2, 3, 4 (develop lists later) (difference between its and it’s plus your and you’re

plus there and they’re are tested on high school TAKS and ACT/SAT)

6. plurals of letters in words such as two's 12

Quotation Marks

♦ simple 3, 4

♦ quote at first of sentence ("I went to the store," said Mary.) 4

♦ quote at end of sentence (Mary said, "I went to the store.") 4

♦ divided quotes ("I went," Mary said, "to the store.") 4, 5, 6

♦ with two or more paragraphs in one quote 9

♦ indenting long quotes and omitting quotation marks 9

♦ quotes inside of quotes (single quotation marks) 8

♦ articles in magazines and newspapers 6

♦ chapters in books, songs, and poems 6

♦ using italics or quotation marks to set off any quoted or emphasized word or short phrase.

(With a "now-or-never" look on his face, Mark marched into his boss's office.) 9

Hyphen

♦ two part numbers (twenty-six) 2

♦ compound adjective before noun (deep-blue color) 7

♦ compounding numerals with other words ('five-o 'clock, 150-yard dash) 7

♦ when to use hyphens with fractions (They are entitled to ten and one-half shares of stock. He

invested one third of his money in real estate.) 5

♦ in certain compounds made up of nouns and prepositional phrases (mother-in-law) 7

♦ titles compounded with ex and elect 7

♦ when to hyphenate other compound words 7

Dash

♦ abrupt change in sentence (We see words that blow like leaves in the winds of autumn –

golden words, bronze words, words that catch the light like opals). 9

♦ set off interpolated explanatory matter (There are many differences - aside from the physical

ones - between men and women.) 9

♦ indicate a sudden break in a sentence (I wouldn't - I couldn't permit you to say such a thing.)

9

♦ instead of parentheses 9

Parentheses

♦ set off parenthetical matter not necessary to the grammatical structure of the sentence but too

important to omit. [The due date of the monthly payment (once the loan has been approved)

can be the day most convenient for you.] 11, 12

♦ enclose explanations inserted in the text [The Oyster Festival (a recently established event) has

become a popular celebration here.] 11

♦ parenthetical documentation 8, 9, 10, 12

Brackets

♦ enclose words and phrases independent of the sentence (explanatory notes, omissions and

comments not written by the author) (The following year [1620] the Pilgrims landed at

Plymouth.) 11

Ellipsis Dots

♦ omission of words or paragraphs from a quotation 7

Italics/Underlining

□ titles of books, magazines 2

□ movies 6

□ albums/CDs, paintings, ships, plays 6, 10

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